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Travis Wilson

WisSports.net



Perhaps it was just the nature of the schedule, with many teams wrapping up and fighting for conference titles, or maybe it was teams extra motivated to make one last push for a better seed. Whatever it was, there was a larger than normal number of teams suffering defeat in Week 13, particular in Divisions 1 and 2.



This will be the last WSN/WBCA Coaches Poll of the season, as at this time next week teams will be getting ready for first-round playoff games and starting to prove their ranking on the court.



Week 13 WSN/WBCA Coaches Poll



Division 1

Milwaukee Hamilton retained the top spot in the final Division 1 poll, and the gap between them and second-ranked Racine Park increased quite a bit. After being neck and neck with Hamilton the last two weeks, coaches may have seen the reports of an investigation of Park and potential forfeits as a negative and voted accordingly. De Pere, Madison East, and Antigo round out the top five. Arrowhead was ranked #5 last week but fell to Classic Eight rival Catholic Memorial by 24 points last week and slid to 8th this week. #9 Superior suffered a defeat, as did four of the five bottom teams in last week's poll. The Spartans were able to hang in at #12 this week but Eau Claire Memorial, Milwaukee South, Pulaski, and Watertown all fell out. Milwaukee Washington was the big winner, returning to the poll at #12. Waterford, Milwaukee King, and Waunakee also returned to the polls this week.



Division 2

The big news in D2 was the loss by New Berlin Eisenhower on Friday night, 55-50 to Whitnall. It dropped Ike to #3 and also dropped the last team from the ranks of the unbeaten in D2. In a close vote, Catholic Memorial ascends to the top spot, fresh off a 24-point win over Arrowhead that clinched the Classic Eight title outright for the Crusaders. Fifth-ranked Port Washington was an upset victim Friday night at the hands of Homestead and slipped to seventh this week. At the bottom of the poll, #12 Northwestern, #13 River Valley, and #15 Lake Mills all suffered defeat last week as well with Northwestern the only team to hang in this week at #14. Shawano and Prairie du Chien return to the rankings this week.



Division 3

Division 3 may be the most balanced and competitive division in the state, with so many great teams featuring outstanding resumes. There was a bit of a shakeup towards the top, as former #2 Racine St. Catherine's was upset by Shoreland Lutheran and slipped to #4. Darlington lost their third game of the year and fell from #6 to #9. Roncalli lost Monday night to Valders, but the late game may not have been noticed by some voters as the Jets remain at #5. A strong overall resume helps as well, as does the fact that the teams immediately behind them last week either lost (Darlington) or have struggled lately (Dominican). Some minor shuffling took place in the bottom half of the poll, although none of the teams suffered defeat last week. Three Lakes snuck in front of Blair-Taylor to claim the #15 spot. B-T, Whitehall, and Eau Claire Regis are all teams that would probably normally be ranked, but the depth and quality of this division means there's more deserving teams than spots available.



Division 4

Randolph remains the overwhelming #1 team in Division 4, having collected almost every top vote all season. Sheboygan Christian, Clayton, Green Lake, and Racine Lutheran continue to round out the top five. #6 Monticello, #7 Suring, and #8 Marshfield Columbus all went down in the last week however. They moved to #8, #11, and #12 respectively. Barneveld made the biggest jump this week thanks to their win over Monticello, moving from #12 to #7. No teams fell out of the rankings this week.